Angry villagers of the tribal village of Jesawada in Dahod district of Gujarat attacked local policemen and set their vehicles ablaze on Thursday, 26 October, following the death of a resident from injuries sustained during police interrogation.
Thirty-one-year-old Kanesh Gamara and his brother were picked up for interrogation for the involvement of their third brother in a dacoity case, but he died after being in police custody.
An Indian Express report said that five policemen were booked for Gamara’s murder by Jesawada police station, but are yet to be arrested. They were booked under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 114 (abettor present when offence is committed). Police have also booked 300 to 400 people on rioting charges.
Following the violence, the police reacted with firing at a mob of around 500 tribal members. The Quint’s Aviral Virk traveled to Jesawada to find out the ground reality.
After Gamara’s death, a crowd gathered at the police station demanding that the policeman who interrogated him be booked. When the policemen said a case of accidental death would be booked, the villagers started hurling stones at them. The police then opened fire to disperse the crowd.
One of the bullets reportedly struck a farmer, leaving him dead.
The incident occurred a day after election dates were declared for the Gujarat state Assembly polls.
The farmer, who died in the firing, is survived by his wife and six children. A handful of policemen were also left injured in the unrest.
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